Anthony Mullins
As a screenwriter and director who worked on TV dramas, the author was used to teasing out clever plot lines in order to create suspense. That was until a real-life crime made him reassess the tricks of his trade.

Hamish McDonald
Fiji’s prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, is facing his first elections since seizing power in 2006. The strongman’s campaign road trip of expat communities found him in Sydney’s battler belt.

The Lucky Country is an insider’s outside view of Australia’s most important political and
economic debates. Hosted by The Australia Institute’s Chief Economist Richard
Denniss, The Lucky Country is a weekly podcast from Schwartz Media which applies
common sense to complex issues.

Tony AbbottThe prime minister launches Paul Kelly’s book on the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years. See also, prime ministers sitting and past.

HISTORY

“Gareth and I went out there in suits one day, sweating, and there’s Bob in the nude.”

Paul KeatingThe former prime minister offers his perspective on rival Bob Hawke, sunbathing at The Lodge, using a narrowing of his thumb and forefinger for scale.

EMPLOYMENT

“I met with Joe Hockey. We had a coffee and a chat. I liked him. I also liked the coffee. I am not his speechwriter, or indeed anyone else’s.”

David HuntThe satirist explains that the treasurer has not called on his perspective for speeches, despite reports and the obvious satire in Hockey’s dispatches.

AWARDS I

“Natural Family Man of the Year."

World Congress of FamiliesThe anti-gay congress, pun intended, gives its perspective on Kevin Andrews. Among other things, “natural” is a very generous assessment of his hair.

AWARDS II

“He couldn’t see very well because of the wool over his face, so I snuck up behind him and grabbed him.”

Peter HazellThe Tasmanian farmer finds what he believes is the world’s woolliest sheep, caught after six years wandering the wilderness blinded by the wool over its eyes. See also, prime ministers sitting and past.

AWARDS III

“I suppose we even had sheep with four to five years’ wool which is fairly common in our part of the world.”

Dean RasheedThe Flinders Ranges woolgrower, careful to maintain perspective, explains why the Tasmanian sheep with 20 kilograms of fleece is not that remarkable after all.